Tractor-track side plate



Nov. 1, 1927. v c. M. RASMUSSEN v TRACTOR TRACK sum PLATE Filed Jan. 51; 1924 k INVENTOR I Char/65M filvmwsm Patented Nov. 1, 11927.

" were V g a streams u 'rtasmussnmor SEATTLE, wesrzrnerorn \TRAoToRaRAoKsrDn PLATE.

' Application filed January 31, 1924/ s rial no; 689,628.

The invention is in the replacing" of the lower portion of the side plates of tractorswith heavier plates having beveled upper edges and their lower edges extendedidown ward a shortdistance at the central portion ,and a greater distance at the two ends. The thickening of the plates presents a much broader surface at the lower edge 'for the track to wear against so that the wear will be practically eliminated. This also pre-v vents the plate being bent sideways. The

" egtending or" the lower edgedownward prevents the track from jumping off of the sprockets, and also preventsthe breaking of track between the side plates. And the beveling of the upper edges of the plates for the entire length prevents rocks, dlrt'and sand from'settling on the'upper edge of the plates. and filling up the inside of the track I This also provides more clearance for screw heads at the shafts of the intermediate wheels and positively vprevents rocks, dirt and sand from settling on the edgeand cutting off thescrew heads that hold the packing and washers of these wheels. ,lYhen these screw heads are worn off or worked loose from rocks and grit they permitdirt to get into the lower track wheel and ruin the bearings.

guide plates for tractor tracks which will prevent the track working oil of thesproclv- V ets. I

Another object of the inventionis to pro-f vide guide plates for. tractors which are conv siderably thicker-than the standard plates ,so that their lower edges will withstand the wear or the track more efliciently but will; not bend, and will not permit rocks'or dirt to 5 work inside of the track. 1 v

' This invention is particularly related: to

Model I or tank type tractors which: arel manufactured by; the Cleveland Tract0r Company of Cleveland, Ohio, but 1t is unof ditferent makes.

With these ends in view the-inventionernbodies a plate of such a design that it may derstood it may be'used on similar tractors,

One object of the invention is to provide "the side ot a seni1-c1rcularopeningwhich1s Its working or lower edge is somewhat lower than the edge ofthc side plates andits forv ward end extends dow nward "to I hold. the track until it is on the sprockets" Its lower rear corneralso extends downward so that j its lower and rear edges form an anglewhich I is substantially at' right angle... 1 i Other features and advantages of the in vention willbeseen from thelit'ollowing 'de- .65: i I

scription takenin' connection with thedr awr ings whereinz o if. I Figure 1 is a side Lew, of a tractor show ingv the position'ofthe plate, I Figure 2 is a detail otthe plate, I fhigure 3 cross section th'roughthe lower side or the "tracksl owing'tl1e relative position between thetrack and'plateff f In thedrawings I have shown my device as it would beconstructed wherein numer- Y 0 al 1 indicates asteelplate that-may be provided with holes 2 which are arrangedjto cor respond with rivet holes in the lower flange."

of an angle 3011' a tractor frame. I The forward end of the'plate is curved slightly up '80 ward as shown at the points Land 5 and the curvature 'ofthe edge at the point tfisjsuch that when the plate is in place this edgewill follow tlieupper side of the tractor track with a slight clearance' The loweredg-e of the rearis provided' with a slight curvature as shown at points Gandthe rear end otthe I plate extends 'upwardfin a vertical plane.

The upper-edge of the plate extends forward i from the point 7 to thevpoint 8, then down 9o v ward to a point 9 at which pointitruns into 3 made so that it will clear a'shaft 10 ofone' of the intermediate sprockets'or wheels-for", a

holding the track downward. From these;

opposite side of-this semi-circularopening the edge extends forward to a point 12, at i. which point a rectangular shaped opening -side ofthis opening'the edge extendsto another seini-circular opening 15 which clears aishaft 16 similar to the, shaft 10. On the:

opposite side of this opening the' edgeea 1051 111 f tends to another semi circularfopening 17" which is formed to clear a shaft 18 which-is alsosimilar to thesh'ait '10; The edge then 1 vextends forwardand slightlyupward toa V point 19 atfthe forward end;Thei uppersllc edge of the'plate is beveled along itsjentire length as shown at the'points'goinfFigure 3 o Letters Patent, is

and also by the line 21 in Figure 2. The

outer ends of the holes 2 are also beveled as shown. I

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. To use the device it may be installed by removing the portion of the side plates between the lower edqe of the angles 3'and' the bottom, then removing the rivets in the down wardly extending leg of the angle 3 and riveting or bolting the plates 1 on the inside of the former side plate as shown in Figure '3. edge of the plate 1 with the lower edge of the former tractor plate as indicated by the dotted line 22 in Figure 2 that the edge of the plate 1 will have less clearance between it and the upper side of the track and the ends which extend further will assist in hold ingthe track adjacent the sprockets, and pref ventrocks or dirt working into the side of V the track.

Having thus fully described the invent-ion what I claim as new and desire to secure by standard plate along its'central pertion ar It will be seen by comparing the lower neezseo 1. A plate for tractors which is provided with counter-sunk holes that correspond with the rivet holes in the lower portion the tractor plate, and other openings which permit the upper edge-of the plate to clear the shafts of the intermediate rollers and struts; said plate being several times thicker than the standardplate,having its lower edge e:; tending downward slightly more than the considerably more than the standard plate adgacent its ends; and salt plate he rs adaptable to replace the lower portion of the standard plate.

2. In a detachable plate for tractors or the ullv like, a substantially thick plate having counter-sunk holes corresponding with the rivet heles in the lower portion of the tra tor track frame, and other openings to permit the upper edge of the plate to clear the struts and shafts of the intermediate rollers; said plate having its upper edge beveled and be ing adaptable tocreplace the lowerportion,

of the tractor track frame side plates.

CHARLES M. RAS'MUSSEN. 

